Presentation and first impressions mean everything when selling a home, and real estate agents know that neutral colors can be safest. But do you have to use only neutral paint colors when selling your home?

Sometimes, as people in foreclosure watch their homes slip away, they wonder if they should try to bid on their own home during the auction. Can they actually do this? Legally, yes, but they'll have some major hurdles ahead.

In 2010, 2.87 million properties received default notices, went up for auction or were repossessed -- a perfect storm for anyone wanting to buy a home at a foreclosure auction. What do you need to know before attending such an auction?

Since the housing bubble burst and prices dropped, many people are saying it's a great time to buy a house. However, there are a lot of responsibilities that go along with homeownership. Why wouldn't you want to buy a house?

As you get closer to retirement age, it might feel like it's too late to buy a home. While this might be true in some cases, there are times when it still makes sense to buy. But are you ever too old to buy your first house?

There's no point in falling for a house in a neighborhood you can't stand. And if you realize after you move that the area's not for you, it's too late. Find out what to look for to find the perfect neighborhood before you look for your next house.

Choosing a new neighborhood is a huge decision. And if there's one thing you should do to ensure you make the right choice it's your homework -- and that includes everything from online research to in-person visits.

For most of us, the dream of buying an island is just that -- a dream. But if you're having fun pretending, or you've actually lucked out and inherited a ton of cash, check out these 10 secluded isles. Trust us, they're all over-the-top.

Maybe you've recently won the lottery and are in the market for a private island. Now you have no idea where to begin. Read on to learn everything you need to know about buying your own island getaway.

Buying a vacant lot can be complicated -- not to mention expensive. There are several things you should know before you make such a major purchase. We've outlined 10 of them to help simplify the process.

Most of the water we drink and use is groundwater coming from rain or snow that has collected in the ground. The groundwater level on your land can impact the type of house, complex or well you're planning to build. We'll show you how.

Restrictive covenants help enforce standards and uniformity in neighborhoods. But they can also ban you from building fences, adding a pool and even cutting down trees. So how can you get out a restrictive covenant?

There are many sneaky pitfalls that can hurt your chances of being accepted by a co-op board, because they have the legal right to be rather arbitrary. What are some things that might cause the board to reject you?

You've hired a real estate agent, and you're well into the selling process, but things aren't going well. What can you do if you're worried that your agent might not be able to sell your home after all?